Sean Edwards seventh pole-sitter at seventh race
Stuttgart. The unique series continues: At round seven of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland there is the seventh pole-sitter. In the final seconds of qualifying, points’ leader Sean Edwards snatched pole position on the Nuerburgring. Driving for the Deutsche Post by tolimit squad, the Briton lapped the 3.629 kilometre circuit in 1:42.974 minutes. In torrential rain, the second grid position went to old-hand René Rast from Förch Racing. Clinching a sensational third at his first ever qualifying with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was Christopher Mies (Germany, Deutsche Post by tolimit).
By setting his first pole position in the Carrera Cup with three rounds to go, Sean Edwards has further extended his chances to clinch the coveted title of Germany’s fastest one-make series. Even more so since his compatriot and greatest rival Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport) takes up the sprint from only fourth place. What’s more, the 24-year-old also confirms his reputation as a proven rain specialist. Five weeks ago, Edwards celebrated his maiden win on the wet Norisring.
Now in the final phase of the championship, everything seems to be heading in the right direction for the British pilot. Second qualifier René Rast poses no threat to the points’ leader – the reigning Supercup champion from Germany lies seventh overall in the championship, 44 points shy of the leader. Because this marks the first race of this series for Christopher Mies, he has no points to his credit. Mies, the 2009 FIA GT3 champion, is standing in for the Deutsche Post by tolimit pilot Jeroen Bleekemolen who currently ranks second in the championship. The Dutchman has other commitments over the next two race weekends. This also means the Zandvoort winner is no risk to Edwards in his bid for the title.
This leaves Nick Tandy. Taking up the sprint from fourth on the grid, the winner of the season-opener will try everything in tomorrow’s 23-lap sprint not to lose touch with Edwards. Last year’s vice-champion Norbert Siedler is pleased with his fifth grid position. For the Aust Motorsport squad this marks their best qualifying result by now. Lining up alongside the Austrian is Jaap van Lagen. Competing for Land Motorsport, the Dutchman is one of the six winners so far this season after his success in Spielberg.
Sharing the fourth grid row are two drivers who still await their first win of the season. Jan Seyffarth (Germany, SMS Seyffarth Motorsport), vice champion of 2008, qualified seventh. And reigning Carrera Cup champion Nicolas Armindo (Hermes Attempto Racing) has to settle for a disappointing eighth on the grid. The Frenchman’s Danish teammate, Nicki Thiim, is also one of the top drivers after winning the Lausitzring race, but only managed to post the ninth quickest time. Uwe Alzen is also not particularly thrilled with his tenth in qualifying. Driving for his own PZ Aschaffenburg Uwe Alzen Automotive team, he is the most successful Carrera Cup pilot with two titles.
Tomorrow’s race is broadcast live from 10.15 hours on the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland website (www.porsche.de/carreracup). On 10th August, TV station Sport1 televises a race report, interviews and reports from 22.15 to 22.45 hours in the ‘Carrera Cup Magazin’.
Sean Edwards (pole-sitter): “I was feeling quite nervous. In the first part of the qualifying I had terrible understeering and was only ninth! At the start of the second session I went out with my old tyres to see how the situation was with aquaplaning. That left me with just one lap on my fresh set of tyres, but luckily it went well. I’m so thrilled to have finally notched up my first pole position. And of course it’s great that my teammate Christopher in third is quicker than Nick Tandy. I hope we can achieve the same great results in tomorrow’s race.”
René Rast (second in qualifying): “I only had one set of tyres left and so I made the most out of it. I’m actually quite pleased with my second place. At the Carrera World Cup I also started from second on the grid and won.”
Christopher Mies (third in qualifying): “I’m over the moon with third at my Carrera Cup debut. Driving in the rain with the Porsche was great fun – and a first for me. Funnily enough I did well on the wet track despite the fact that the car has no ABS. On the dry circuit I had my problems.”
Qualifying result:
1. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, 1:42.974 minutes
2. René Rast (D), Förch Racing, + 0.545 seconds
3. Christopher Mies (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 0.665
4. Nick Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, + 0.936
5. Norbert Siedler (A), Aust Motorsport, + 1.682
6. Jaap van Lagen (NL), Land Motorsport, 1.686
7. Jan Seyffarth (D), SMS Seyffarth Motorsport, + 1.737
8. Nicolas Armindo (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 1.882
9. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 2.247
10. Uwe Alzen (PZ Aschaffenburg Uwe Alzen Automotive), + 2.811
Public Relations and Media
Motorsportpress
Oliver Hilger
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